Knockdown box.



o. o. MENGBL. KNOGKDOWN BOX.'

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1908.

Y Patenteajuly 6,1909.

Wits mou UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES O. MENGEL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO MENGEL BOX COMRANY,

OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. i

KNOC'KDOWN BOX,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES O. MENGEL, a citizen of theUnitcd States, residing at Louis ville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes, of which the following .is a Specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in knock-down boxes, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein:

' Figure l is a perspective view of the bonY or crate in its knocked-down or unfoldelfl condition 5 Fig. 2 a sectional perspective view of the closed boX; Fig. 3 a 'longitudinal sectional view of the box, showing the battens or cleats of the heads` turned inwardly (the reverse of the position shownin Fig. 2) to produce a shorter space within the box; the figure also illustrating the sides, bottoni and top as provided with grooves intermediatethe ends to receive a partition (or partitions) to subdivide the box; `and Fig. 4 a detail sectional view, illustrating a slight modification, l

The main object of the invention. is to roduoe a simple and efficient knocklown 0X, preferably formed of compound or veneer lumber, the construction. being such that by merely positioning the heads with 4different sides thereof innermost the efl'ective'interior length of the box may be readily altered.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means, such as intermediate partitions, by which the interior space of the box may -be subdivided, the end. spaces or subdi-l visions being capable of change in size by shifting the heads face for face.

A still further object of the invention is to so form the edges of the Sides (by which term I mean also to include the top and bot to1n)" that when the structure is folded into its closed position the edges will have a fair hearing on each other, forming a tight oint, with the sides mutually sustaining each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective Wire hinge connection 'bel'.ween the various sides, while a .still further object it to providemeansfor protecting the openings or holes formed adjacent to the edges of two of the sides through which the fastening and scaling wires are passed.

With these and other objects in view, a detail description of the invention will be given.

)The sides (which term generically includes the top and bottom) of the box are designated by 1, 2, 3 and 4, and are preferablyformed of compound or veneered lumber with the grain of the central ply runningI at right angles to that of the other layers. The edges 5 of each side are beveled at an angle of 45 so that when the box is folded or squared, the beveled faces have 'a fair bearing upon each other, as clearly indicated in lfig. 2.

The various sides are connected by suitable hinges, preferably such as shown in detail in Figs. l and 2. Each hinge comprises two sections, hooked or interlooped together. Each loop" 6 is formed of a single piece of wire, doub ed upon itself, the ends of the wire being driven or passed through the side of the box from the outer surface thereof, the body being flattened against the inner face of the side, while the ends are turned and driven into said inner face. This securely fastens the hinges in lace and pre vents the loops from being Witiidrawn or torn out by any unusual strain to which the pack* age may be subjected in transit or in handling. y

The loops proper lie almost flat against the outer faces of the sides and are made of such length that when the box is folded, the beveled edges of the sides will come Aclose together and no play willV take. place between the-1n. This construction avoids the necessity of the use of screws, rivets, nails or other fastening devices, which are employedwith the usual form of hinge.

Each side, adjacent to each end, is formed with a groove or channel 7. Said grooves, when the box is folded, are` adapted to receive the edges ofthe heads 8 and 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each head .is pref erably formed of compound lumber and has secured. to it, at a distance from its edge approximately equal to the depth of the groove 7, battens or cleats l() which serve to stillen the head and likewise, when the box is folded, to bear against the inner faces of the sides and thereby sustainv the sides.

By the employment of battons or cleats i lll) length is decreased by the thickness oll the battens. By reversing one head alone, the shortening will be decreased one half. Assuming, for instance, that the cleats are three-fourths of an inch thick, it will be seen that the effective interior length may be shortened three-fourths of an inch if one head be reversed, or one and one-half inches by reversing both heads. By providing various heads,L having cleats of different `thickness,the interior of the packages may be changed to suit the occasion, it being oftentimes desirable to ship small articles without changing the outer dimensions ol' the ackage. Again, the sides may be provide( with grooves or channels 11, Fig. 3, located intermediate the4 ends, for the reception of partitions 12, by which the box may be subdivided.

'Inasmuch as the boxes are ship ed back to the packer, the employment of eads with various-sized cleats would be a matter of investment, and not an item of constantly-ra eurring expense and special work, as would be the case were it attempted to build a special box l'or each occasionv when one slightly shorter than the 'stock size was required. It is readily conceivable that instead of securing battens or cleats to each head to l'orm filling members, the cleat might be formed as a single piece secured to the head, as'at 10, at the left-hand end. of Fig. 3. The cleats are,however, preferred for various reasons.

Should it become necessary to strengthen the structure when partitions are employed, an extra bottom piece 13, grooved to receive one edge ol' the partition, may be secured in the box.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not essential that all four sides ol' the box should be provided with the supplemental grooves 11 to receive the partitions 12, it being necessary only to form grooves in two oppositely-disposed sides.

Any suitable means may be employed for securing the package in its closed position, but I prefer to forni openings 14 in the l'ree edges of the sides 1 and 4, and to pass wires 15 therethrough, which wires will be twisted and, il' necessary, provided with a seal 16. To prevent the wire from being torn out, aecidentally or otherwise, the openings, one or all, may be provided with eyelets 17.

The package herein described is light and yet stable; it is easily assembled in the course 0f manufacture. and as readily brought from yname to this specification in the its knoek-down shape to a box-like form and securely fastened.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a knock-down box, the combination ol' a series of sides a series of hinges Securing the 'sides together, each hinge comprising a air o1' interlooped loops, the ends of each oop being passed inwardly through a boxside and secured thereto; a pair ol' heads; and means for securing the normally-free edges of the sides together when the'parts are' assembled. A

2. In a knock-down box, the combination oll a series of sides, the opposite edges of which are beveled; a series of hinges securing the sides together, each hinge comprising a air of interlooped loops, the end of each oop being passed inwardly through a boxside and then bent over and driven inwardly into the inner face of the side a pair of heads; and means `for securing the normally-free edges of the sides together when 4the parts are assembled.

3. In a knock-down box, the combination ol' a plurality of sides; a series of wire-hinges secured to the same and connecting them together, each hinge comprising two interlooped loops; the loop-shaped portion lying without the sides, while the ends of the wire pass through the side and are bent over and driven into the inner face oi the sides;

heads; and means for securing the parts together when brought to their assembled position.

4. In a knock-down box, the combination ol' a series of sides hinged together, the proximate edges of the sides being beveled and each side having a groove formed therein adjacent to each end and likewise a plurality ol' grooves intermediate said end grooves; a pair of reversible heads, each head having a filling member secured to one face thereof; a partition adapted to be fitted into one or another ol' the series of intermediate grooves,

whereby compartments ol' various lengths .may be formed within the box by the shifting ol' the headsI or ol' the partition or the shifting of both 5 and means for securing the parts together when assembled.

In testimony whereofI I have signed my presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. CHARLES C. MENGEL.

Witnesses: A

H. P. Ronnrs, A W CORNWALL Jr. 

